Squash ball launching machine

ABSTRACT

An automatic ball launcher includes a base unit and a feed tube coupled to the base unit. The base unit includes an enclosure defining a forward opening where the balls eject and a top opening for receiving the feed tube. A pair of counter-rotating flywheels are disposed in a common plane and located inside of the enclosure. The feed tube includes an elongated tubular body with an open top end covered by a removable cap and an open bottom end configured to be securely inserted into the top opening of the enclosure. The feed tube can include a heating element to heat the balls to a desired temperature prior to launch. The feed tube can be used to collect balls from the ground without the user needing to bend over.

PRIORITY

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/598,344, filed on Dec. 13, 2017, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to automatic sporting projectileand ball feeders, and more particularly, to automatic feeders with theability to hold multiple balls/projectiles and selectively heat theballs prior to discharge.

BACKGROUND

Automatic ball launchers are known. Typical ball launchers employ one ormore counter-rotating flywheels that launch the ball when the ball comesin contact with the outer surface of the flywheel. Such ball launcherscan be configured for launching a variety of projectiles, such as ballsused in squash, tennis, cricket, baseball, softball, American football,football, volleyball, pickle ball, etc., and non-spherical projectilessuch as shuttlecocks used in badminton.

Conventional squash ball launchers are designed for group use (e.g.,club, team, coach). The basic components are a hopper, a heater and theshooter mechanism. Such hoppers can have a capacity of up to 80-100balls. The heater is provided to the hopper because tournament gradesquash balls must be warmed up to a surface temperature of +/−44 degreesCelsius to bounce properly. In match play, the ball is warmedsufficiently by being struck. But in a hopper with an 80-ball capacity,no ball is struck often enough to become warmed up sufficiently. Thus,the heater is provided.

A significant drawback to the conventional squash ball launchersdescribed above is that the weight and size (and cost) of the apparatusmakes it impractical for an individual to own and use. Moreover, theportability of such machine is poor. Therefore, conventional squash balllaunchers are typically owned by groups such as teams or clubs, are usedby more than one person, and are stored court-side.

Another drawback is that the overall height of existing squash balllaunchers and their fixed firing height, bulk and limited range offiring angles all severely limit the variety of possible shotsimulations, for example, high looped shots from the front of the court,shots played from high to low, or shots where the machine is ideallyplaced in front of the user. Shot simulations such as feeder feeds andplayer retrieves can only be practiced with the machine located behindthe player on the court (relative to the front wall), which is dangerousbecause a ball can be launched at up to 150 kilometers per hour.

Therefore, there is a continuing need to provide an improved balllaunching machine that overcomes the deficiencies of prior art devicesas completely as possible.

SUMMARY

Provided is a projectile launcher that is particularly well suited toautomatically feed and launch squash balls. However, any other ball orrounded projectile can be used. The balls are staged in a tubularcollector. The balls are heated within the collector to a desiredtemperature. The collector is inserted into the top of a base unit thatcontains the flywheels for launching the heated balls one at a time. Thebase unit is sufficiently small that it can be mounted on a tri-pod,which increases the range of shots that can be simulated. For example,the size and configuration will allow balls to be fed from a location infront of the player. The ball launching system is also convenientlylightweight, so it is portable and well suited for use by an individual,yet powerful enough to replicate the ball velocities provided by top ofthe line conventional ball launching machines.

Provided is an automatic ball launcher that includes a base unit and afeed tube coupled to the base unit. The base unit includes an enclosuredefining a forward opening where the balls eject and a top opening forreceiving the feed tube. A pair of counter-rotating flywheels aredisposed in a common plane and located inside of the enclosure. The feedtube includes an elongated tubular body with an open top end covered bya removable cap and an open bottom end configured to be securelyinserted into the top opening of the enclosure. The feed tube caninclude a heating element to heat the balls to a desired temperatureprior to launch. The feed tube can be used to collect balls from theground without the user needing to bend over.

A plurality of adjustable front feet can be provided to the enclosurethat telescope vertically downwards from a bottom surface of theenclosure. A vertically extending stand or tripod can also be secured tothe enclosure so that the base unit is maintained in an elevatedposition.

The pair of counter-rotating flywheels each can comprise a rubbermaterial located such that the ball is contacted by the rubber materialduring a launching event.

The common plane can be a horizontal plane, a vertical plane, and can bean oblique angle with respect to the horizontal plane. The orientationangle of the common plane can also be adjustable.

The pair of counter-rotating flywheels can be mounted atop a frame thatis disposed within the enclosure. At least one flywheel of the pair ofcounter-rotating flywheels can be disposed in an adjustable track sothat a spacing distance defined between the pair of flywheels isadjustable.

The base unit can further include a ball speed adjustment selector.

The feed tube can further include a heating element provided to thetubular body or it can be embedded within the tubular body. Insulationcan be provided to the exterior surface of the tubular body. The heatingelement can be a resistive heating element. A temperature sensor can bedisposed within the feed tube.

The feed tube can further comprise a solenoid provided to the openbottom end to prevent balls from prematurely exiting through the bottomend.

Further provided is a method of preparing and launching squash balls.The method can include storing a plurality of squash balls inside of afeed tube while the feed tube is coupled to a launching base unit,heating the plurality of squash balls stored inside of the feed tubewith heating elements disposed in the feed tube until the squash ballsreach a desired temperature, and launching the heated squash balls withthe launching base unit one at a time while maintaining the desiredtemperature of the heated squash balls in the feed tube that have notyet been launched.

The feed tube can be removed from the launching base unit and used toretrieve the squash balls by centering the lower opening over a ball andpushing the feed tube downwards towards the squash ball until the squashball slips inside of the feed tube.

A launch angle of the launching base unit can be adjusted by extendingone or more feet downwards from a bottom side of the launching baseunit. A vertical height of the launching base unit can be adjusted bymounting the launching base unit atop a tripod or a stand. The height ofthe tripod or stand can be adjustable.

The above summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention,or describe each embodiment, aspect, implementation, feature oradvantage of the invention. The detailed technology and preferredembodiments for the subject invention are described in the followingparagraphs accompanying the appended drawings for people skilled in thisfield to well appreciate the features of the claimed invention. It isunderstood that the features mentioned hereinbefore and those to becommented on hereinafter may be used not only in the specifiedcombinations, but also in other combinations or in isolation, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic ball launching system inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of an automatic ball launching systemin accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a feed tube for an automatic balllaunching system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the frame and flywheels sub-assembly ofan automatic ball launching system in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an automatic ball launchingsystem in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view diagram of a heated ball collector of anautomatic ball launching system in accordance with certain embodimentsof the invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view diagram of a heated ball collector of an automaticball launching system in accordance with certain embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a squash court showing various exampledeployment configurations for an automatic ball launching system inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is another perspective view of a squash court showing variousexample deployment configurations for an automatic ball launching systemin accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternativeforms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in thedrawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood,however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to theparticular example embodiments described. On the contrary, the inventionis to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives fallingwithin the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following descriptions, the present invention will be explainedwith reference to various exemplary embodiments. Nevertheless, theseembodiments are not intended to limit the present invention to anyspecific example, environment, application, or particular implementationdescribed herein. Therefore, descriptions of these example embodimentsare only provided for purpose of illustration rather than to limit thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the automatic ball launcher 100 includes alaunching base unit 102, a vertical feed tube 104A or 104B coupled tothe base unit 102 and an optional stand 106. The stand can be a tripod,such as shown, or other raised platform. This allows for a wide varietyof shot simulations to be performed.

Note that a plurality of balls 101, such as squash balls, are showninside of feed tube 104B. Of course, the invention can be adapted oradjusted to work with other types of balls.

Two different types of feed tubes are shown. A basic feed tube 104A is asimple tube through which the squash balls are inserted and held whilebeing fed into the base unit 102. The other feed tube 104B includesheating elements to heat the balls in the tube, if desired. The feedtube will be generally designated as 104 hereinafter.

The feed tube 104 is removable so that it can be used to collect balls101 and hold them in a ready condition for introduction to the base unit102. Referring to FIG. 3, the tube 104 defines a cylindrical or tubularbody with a bottom end having a lower collection opening 126 and an opentop end covered by a cap 128. The cap 128 keeps balls from overflowingout the top of the tubular body. The lower collection opening 126defines an orifice that only permits one-way travel of the ball upwardsinto the tube 104 so that the balls do not fall out the bottom end. Theorifice can be a spring-actuated lever or other means for creating aninterference with the balls exiting the lower opening 126.

In use, the user pushes the tube 104 downwards over a ball on the groundso that the ball pushes past the orifice and enters the tube's interior.Thus, the ball is retained inside of the tube. Subsequent balls arepushed upwards by the same process until the tube is filled to the cap128. Thus, balls can be retrieved without the need of the user to bendover.

The user can insert the lower opening 126 into the feed opening 112 inthe top of the base unit 102. There is structure inside of the orifice112 to selectively retract the lever so that the balls can be fedone-at-a-time into the inlet of the flywheels.

The base unit 102 includes an enclosure 103 with an opening 110 in thefront where the balls eject from the device and a feed opening 112 inthe top side where the feed tube 104 protrudes above the enclosure 103.The balls are staged into the open top 105 of the feed tube 104 to forma column of several balls that wait to be launched, one at a time, fromthe launcher. The opposing bottom end of the feed tube 104 is disposedinto the feed opening 112 and presents one ball at a time to an inletlocated between the side-by-side flywheels 114 (shown in FIG. 4). Asolenoid or other metering means is employed to hold back the ball to belaunched until the proper timing setting is satisfied or until triggeredby the user.

Referring to FIG. 4, a pair of electric motors 115 are provided suchthat each turns a respective one of the pair of flywheels 114 at asufficient rotational speed (in opposite directions) to impart a desiredinitial launch velocity of the ball 101. The initial launch velocity canbe set by the user with a dial 116 (shown in FIG. 2) or other inputmeans on the base unit 102. The motors 115 can be powered by electricitysupplied by a cord, onboard batteries or other suitable power source. Asingle motor can also be used in an alternative embodiment where themotor is coupled to each of the flywheels 114.

The flywheels 114 shown in FIG. 4 are disposed in a horizontalorientation in a common plane. However, the flywheels can also bedisposed in a vertical plane or at any other plane angle between thevertical and horizontal planes.

By varying plane angle and the relative speed of the counter-rotatingflywheels 114, a variety of spins can be imparted to the ball beinglaunched.

The horizontal spacing of the flywheels 114 can be adjusted via a track118 defined in the frame 120 to which the flywheels 114 are mounted.This feature allows the base unit 102 to accommodate a wide range ofball diameters and types. The feed tube 104 may also be switched to atube with a larger inner diameter, if necessary, to accommodate theouter diameter of the balls being fed.

The flywheels 114 can also be changed to provide differentcircumferential surface types and textures adapted for different typesof balls. For example, the outer circumferential surfaces can be a firmrubber, soft rubber, metal, plastic, knurled, smooth, etc.

FIG. 5 further illustrates many of the foregoing components as shown inan exploded parts view.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-7, the balls 101 in the tube 104 can be heatedvia a plurality of heating elements 130 disposed within the body of thetube. The heating elements 130 can be longitudinally-extending resistiveheating rods as shown in the figures, or they can take another form thatstill allows the balls to be collected. The heating elements 130 canalso be molded or formed into the tubular body 104 itself. The heatingelements 130 are connected to an electrical power source 132 such as theone that is used to power the device 100.

The tubular body 104 can be covered with an insulating material 134,such as polystyrene, to better maintain the heat in the balls 101 andminimize heat input needs for the heating elements 130.

A temperature sensor 136 can also be placed within the tubular body 104so that the ball temperature can be monitored. That way, the user canset a specified temperature, and the heating system can maintain theballs at the set temperature automatically by adjusting the power to theheating elements as needed.

The tube 104 can also be used with other ball launching machines otherthan the machine disclosed herein.

The heated ball collecting tube 104 advantageously allows the balllaunching machine 100 to be made lighter and simpler since no means forheating the balls is required due to the balls being heated prior tointroduction of the ball into the launching chamber.

Referring to FIGS. 8-9, a plurality of feet 122 extend below the baseunit 102 to provide for stability. The front feet 122 can be adjusted upand down so that the angle of launch with respect to the horizon can beadjusted at any desired setting within the range of travel of the feet122.

In FIG. 8, the machine 100A is in a low trajectory setting so that theball will be launched at a small angle relative to the horizon or thefloor of the court. In contrast, machine 100B is at a much larger angleof launch because the front feet 122 are greatly extended. The machine100 can also be mounted at a raised height (e.g. on tripod 106) tosimulate an attacking shot.

In FIG. 9, both machines 100A and 100B are again shown. Additionalmachine 100C is also seen mounted atop a tripod 106 for added elevationbut with a smaller launch angle than machine 1006. These variations andthe ability to change the launch speed provide for a wide variety oflaunch characteristics to be selected by the user.

The automatic ball feeding and launching system disclosed herein isadvantageous for being light, portable and powerful. The tube used as acollector provides for quick collection of balls. The launcher devicecan be adjusted to feed high-to-low and feed while located in front ofthe player.

In yet another aspect, multiple ball launchers can be used togethersimultaneously in a variety of configurations, such as shown in FIG. 8or FIG. 9, in order to create shot patterns that would not be possiblewith a single machine. For example, shots can be created from low launchpoint to correspond generally with a defensive shot. Raising the launchheight allows a range of attacking (high to low) shots to be simulated.

In a further use case, balls can be hand-fed one at a time into thelaunching apparatus 100. This simulates a typical coaching/trainingscenario where a coach/player A feeds a ball and player B executes adesired shot in return. This provides for greater accuracy and control,particularly for difficult-to-execute feeds, for example, simulatedserves to player B's backhand.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments,it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that theinvention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It will bereadily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that manymodifications and equivalent arrangements can be made thereof withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, suchscope to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claimsso as to encompass all equivalent structures and products. Moreover,features or aspects of various example embodiments may be mixed andmatched (even if such combination is not explicitly described herein)without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic ball launcher, comprising: a baseunit; and a feed tube coupled to the base unit, wherein the base unitcomprises: an enclosure defining a forward opening where the balls ejectand a top opening for receiving the feed tube; and a pair ofcounter-rotating flywheels disposed in a common plane and located insideof the enclosure, and wherein the feed tube comprises an elongatedtubular body with an open top end covered by a removable cap and an openbottom end configured to be securely inserted into the top opening ofthe enclosure.
 2. The automatic ball launcher of claim 1, furthercomprising a plurality of adjustable front feet provided to theenclosure that extend vertically downwards from a bottom surface of theenclosure.
 3. The automatic ball launcher of claim 1, further comprisinga vertically extending stand or tripod secured to the enclosure so thatthe base unit is maintained in an elevated position.
 4. The automaticball launcher of claim 1, wherein the pair of counter-rotating flywheelseach comprise a rubber material located such that the ball is contactedby the rubber material during a launching event.
 5. The automatic balllauncher of claim 1, wherein the common plane is a horizontal plane. 6.The automatic ball launcher of claim 1, wherein the common plane is atan oblique angle with respect to the horizontal plane.
 7. The automaticball launcher of claim 1, wherein an orientation angle of the commonplane is adjustable.
 8. The automatic ball launcher of claim 1, whereinthe common plane is a vertical plane.
 9. The automatic ball launcher ofclaim 1, wherein the pair of counter-rotating flywheels are mounted atopa frame that is disposed within the enclosure.
 10. The automatic balllauncher of claim 1, wherein at least one flywheel of the pair ofcounter-rotating flywheels is disposed in an adjustable track so that aspacing distance defined between the pair of flywheels is adjustable.11. The automatic ball launcher of claim 1, wherein the base unitfurther comprises a ball speed adjustment selector.
 12. The automaticball launcher of claim 1, wherein the feed tube further includes aheating element provided to the tubular body.
 13. The automatic balllauncher of claim 12, wherein the heating element is a resistive heatingelement.
 14. The automatic ball launcher of claim 12, wherein the feedtube further comprises a temperature sensor disposed within the feedtube.
 15. The automatic ball launcher of claim 12, wherein the heatingelement is embedded in the tubular body.
 16. The automatic ball launcherof claim 1, wherein the feed tube further comprises a solenoid providedto the open bottom end to prevent balls from prematurely exiting throughthe bottom end.
 17. A method of preparing and launching squash balls,the method comprising: storing a plurality of squash balls inside of afeed tube while the feed tube is coupled to a launching base unit;heating the plurality of squash balls stored inside of the feed tubewith heating elements disposed in the feed tube until the squash ballsreach a desired temperature; and launching the heated squash balls withthe launching base unit one at a time while maintaining the desiredtemperature of the heated squash balls in the feed tube that have notyet been launched.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:removing the feed tube from the launching base unit; and retrieving thesquash balls by centering the lower opening over a ball and pushing thefeed tube downwards towards the squash ball until the squash ball slipsinside of the feed tube.
 19. The method of claim 17, further comprisingadjusting a launch angle of the launching base unit by extending one ormore feet downwards from a bottom side of the launching base unit. 20.The method of claim 17, further comprising adjusting a vertical heightof the launching base unit by mounting the launching base unit atop atripod or a stand.